Matthew Fuhrmann (AB 鈥�02, PhD 鈥�08) still remembers the moment he realized that grit could be stronger than defeat.
It was January 31, 1993. He was a kid from Buffalo, New York, watching his beloved Bills lose their third consecutive Super Bowl. The game was all but over. The score was lopsided. But then, in a play that would etch itself into his memory, Buffalo鈥檚 quarterback fumbled and a Dallas defender picked up the ball, running more than 60 yards to an apparent touchdown. At the last possible moment, after sprinting nearly the entire length of the field, Buffalo鈥檚 wide receiver Don Beebe chased down the defender, knocking the ball loose just before a touchdown. It didn鈥檛 change the outcome, but it changed something in Fuhrmann.
鈥淭he lesson I learned from that is, you just don鈥檛 quit no matter what. You just got to have that grit and determination to keep going, even when things look tough,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat lesson has stuck with me because in any career path you鈥檙e going to face challenges along the way, and I think success requires being able to pull yourself up when you get knocked down.鈥�
It鈥檚 a fitting metaphor for a career that has been defined by an intentional mission and a relentless pursuit of truth. Today, Fuhrmann is the Cullen McFadden Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M University and a leading scholar in nuclear security. His work has been mentioned in The New York Times, CNN, and NPR. He鈥檚 shared his ideas with the U.S. military, the intelligence community, and Congressional staffers. And this year, he鈥檚 being honored with the Alumni Impact Award for International Affairs.
A little hesitant of the 快猫短视频 at first, Fuhrmann quickly found his footing in 快猫短视频 and the Honors Program, where small, intensive classes opened his mind to new ways of thinking. One of those classes on the U.S. Presidency, taught by Dr. Loch Johnson, coincided with the attacks of September 11, 2001.
鈥淚t was a horrible time,鈥� Fuhrmann recalls. 鈥淏ut being in that class gave me perspective. It helped me understand the national security implications. That experience lit a fire in me. I didn鈥檛 know what form it would take, but I knew I wanted to do something that made the world safer.鈥�
After a brief stint at Georgia Tech for his master鈥檚 degree (which we鈥檝e all agreed to forgive), Fuhrmann returned to UGA for his PhD after a conversation with Gary Bertsch, the founder of the now-named Benson- Bertsch Center for International Trade and Security. 鈥淕ary built something from nothing,鈥� Fuhrmann says. 鈥淗e showed me how to take an idea and make it real. Working with him taught me how to do work that connects scholarship with real-world policy.鈥�
Fuhrmann鈥檚 research has gone on to tackle some of the most pressing questions in global security. How can the United States prevent the international spread of nuclear weapons? Can nuclear threats actually coerce adversaries? How do we prevent escalation in conflicts like the war in Ukraine?
In his first book, Atomic Assistance, the foundation of which stemmed from his research at UGA, Fuhrmann explores why the U.S. helps other countries develop nuclear energy programs despite the risk of proliferation. His second book, Nuclear Weapons and Coercive Diplomacy, co-authored with Todd Sechser, challenges conventional wisdom about the power of nuclear threats. Together, they examine whether possessing nuclear weapons actually gives countries leverage in international disputes. Their findings suggest that nuclear blackmail is far less effective than many assume, reshaping how scholars and policymakers think about deterrence and diplomacy.
His latest work, Influence Without Arms, is perhaps his most ambitious. The book, which took eight years to complete, explores a new logic of nuclear deterrence in the 21st century. It considers how influence can be wielded without ever pulling the trigger. 鈥淭here were times I thought about giving up,鈥� Fuhrmann admits. 鈥淏ut I kept going. Because I believe scholars should do their best to get to the truth on important national security challenges.鈥�
That perseverance has paid off. Fuhrmann鈥檚 research is assigned in classrooms across the country, and he鈥檚 been invited to speak at many leading universities and policy-focused institutions. He鈥檚 also deeply committed to teaching, especially his undergraduate course on nuclear security.
鈥淥ne student told me that taking my class changed the course of their career trajectory,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the kind of impact I want to have.鈥�
For Fuhrmann, impact isn鈥檛 just about accolades or citations. It鈥檚 about all aspects of academia.
鈥淚 do three things: research, teaching, and service,鈥� he says. 鈥淎ll of them matter. All of them can make a difference.鈥�
He credits his parents with instilling his work ethic, and his UGA professors with shaping his intellectual path. 鈥淚 was lucky to learn from icons,鈥� he says. 鈥淟och Johnson, Chuck Bullock, Stefanie Lindquist, Gary Bertsch. They showed me what it means to lead, to serve, and to build something that lasts.鈥�
And while he speaks highly of his mentors, the admiration is mutual.
鈥淧rofessor Matt Fuhrmann may be the most distinguished IA scholar I have seen come out of UGA in my 55 years associated with the university,鈥� said Professor Gary Bertsch. 鈥淧erhaps most important, Matt is one of the best all-around individuals I know. Brilliant, humble, honest, caring, and kind. He is a credit to the human race.鈥�
Praise like Bertsch鈥檚 speaks volumes鈥攏ot only about Fuhrmann鈥檚 academic achievements, but also about the character behind the credentials. And while his work spans the globe, Fuhrmann still finds joy in the simple things. He plays goalkeeper on a local soccer team and remains devoted to the Buffalo Bills. 鈥淚鈥檓 still a huge fan,鈥� he laughs. 鈥淪ome things never change.鈥�
